The French pill scare: towards a new contraceptive model?

Abstract

The media debate in late 2012 and early 2013 on contraceptive pills did not reduce contraceptive prevalence,but the use of oral contraception decreased, falling from 50% in 2010 to 41% in 2013. A portion of women opted for other methods, notably IUDs (among the most educated), condoms, or "natural" methods (among the most disadvantaged). New social inequalities in contraceptive use appeared. The 2013 debate contributed to a diversification of contraceptive practices, although the pill remains dominant.